Schoolboy sensation Jake Doran hopes to play Test cricket for Australia by his early 20s and he has taken the next step towards realising that ambition by being awarded a rookie contract with NSW.

Cricket NSW will on Wednesday announce its list of contracted players for next season. There will be few surprises. The Sheffield Shield champions' big change is having fast bowler Pat Cummins, previously on a Cricket Australia deal, back on their books.

While the Blues have seven players nationally contracted, they will name a squad of 16 for the 2014-15 season as well as four on rookie deals.

Among them is 17-year-old Doran, who made headlines last season when he was selected for a CA Chairman's XI to play against Alastair Cook's England in a tour match at Alice Springs.

Advertisement

He has been compared to Mike Hussey by former Test captain Greg Chappell and is the youngest player ever to represent the NSW second XI. Doran joins the Blues officially with the world at his feet and the confident wicketkeeper-batsman is already eyeing off the ultimate objective: to play Test cricket for his country. It's fair to say this richly talented teenager knows what he wants.

"I know there is a fair bit of hype around me at the moment, and I have set goals in that sort of way. I've always wanted to try and make it as young as I can," Doran said.

"My goal is to make it around that 20 to 24 mark but that all depends on how I go in the next few years."

The Australian under-19s rep, whose brother is Sydney Thunder spinner Luke Doran, is not bothered by the lofty expectations that come from being branded the hottest young batting talent in the land.

"There is a bit more weight put on your shoulders but in a way it's good as well," he said. "I'm thankful for stuff they say about me, it all just keeps you motivated to keep on pushing forward and make sure one day hopefully I can become that. But at the moment I'm just trying to be myself and make a name for myself."

He will begin doing that while juggling cricket with homework at Hills Sports High School

"It's challenging trying to mix both and have a social life in between but the school, Cricket NSW and Cricket Australia have all been good and all helped trying to make me finish my year 12," Doran said.